A DOCTOR who forged prescriptions for Viagra and took them to pharmacies under a false name said he had been too embarrassed to go to a GP for the medication.

Mansoor Mohammed Kassim, 37, of Ilford in Essex, was working at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr hospital in Ystrad Mynach when he stole prescription forms.

Using made-up names of doctors and patients he filled them out for the drug sildenafil, better known by its trade name Viagra.

David Welch, defending Kassim, said his client had marital difficulties which led him to seek out the medication.

But father-of-two Kassim was embarrassed to admit his problem to another doctor and so faked the prescriptions himself.

He took one such form to Pill Pharmacy in Commercial Road under the name of Ravi Kumar.

Staff became suspicious as Viagra is not normally a drug prescribed in the trauma and orthopaedic department.

Handwriting analysis costing £600 showed Kassim had written out the prescriptions, although his lawyer questioned whether this had been necessary considering his client’s willingness to admit the crime when questioned.

The court heard the stealing began on Kassim’s second day working for Aneurin Bevan Health Board. He was a senior doctor who was about to become a consultant, but the court heard he now faces a hearing in front of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service.

Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court heard the value of the fraudulently obtained medication was £340.67. The NHS investigation into the matter cost £2,561.11.

Mr Welch said: “He’s said this is the most stupid thing he’s done in his entire life. He’s now seeking counselling to look at really why he did what he did, given so much that was put at risk.”

Kassim has now obtained a legitimate prescription for the drug.

Chairman of the bench David Wall said: “These are serious allegations. You were in a high position of trust. We don’t feel we can deal with the matter without further investigation.”

Kassim pleaded guilty to four counts of making a false prescription for a scheduled drug, two counts of theft by an employee and one count of fraud by false representation, between February 25 and October 24 this year.

He was bailed until January 9 when he will appear before Newport Magistrates’ Court to be sentenced.

Martyn Edwards, head of counter fraud with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said: "The NHS and the public in general are entitled to expect the highest levels of integrity from clinicians. In this instance, the conduct of Dr Kassim fell far short of those expectations. The NHS has absolutely no tolerance for dishonest abuse of a position of trust of this nature”.

On the inside wrote:
The strange thing is he could have written a perfectly legal private prescription for the drug (Drs are allowed to treat themselves although it is frowned upon) and paid for them.

Or, if my email spam folder is to be believed, bought them online.

[quote][p][bold]On the inside[/bold] wrote:
The strange thing is he could have written a perfectly legal private prescription for the drug (Drs are allowed to treat themselves although it is frowned upon) and paid for them.[/p][/quote]Or, if my email spam folder is to be believed, bought them online.GardenVarietyMushroom

Embarrassed were you doc?
As a male, just remember that, (if you're still allowed to practice medicine) when some poor soul is in front of you for a prostate exam, as you don your lube covered latex glove.....

Embarrassed were you doc?
As a male, just remember that, (if you're still allowed to practice medicine) when some poor soul is in front of you for a prostate exam, as you don your lube covered latex glove.....telboy